ONDCP Blog

ONDCP Joins SAMHSA in Celebrating Drug-Free Work Week

Cross-posted from the SAMHSA blog.

As we celebrate National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, Drug-Free Work Week provides an opportunity to highlight the benefits that these programs bring to employers, workers and communities.  Prevention, early intervention, and treatment are all critical to building an even stronger and healthier U.S. workforce.

On behalf of ONDCP, SAMHSA’s Division of Workplace Programs continues to implement the Federal Drug-Free Workplace Program (DFWP) responsible for ensuring the national security, public health, and public safety of our country. The DFWP is one of the largest public health prevention programs in the U.S, that reaches 400,000 Federal employees and 12 million workers in Federally regulated industries. Further, private industry employers have recognized the value of the DFWP program and are currently testing an additional 50 million workers as a condition of employment utilizing the Federal standards.

We know that, like other chronic diseases, addiction can be managed successfully. Although often a long and difficult journey, research shows treatment is effective in helping people with substance use disorders achieve recovery.  Treatment programs enable people to counteract addiction’s powerful disruptive effects on the brain and behavior and to regain control of their lives.  Providing treatment and recovery support services also lessens the burden substance abuse places on families and society.  And, studies show that every dollar spent on treatment saves four dollars in health care costs and seven dollars in public safety costs.

ONDCP is proud to stand with SAMHSA and the U.S. Department of Labor in celebrating Drug Free Work Week.  We encourage businesses to get involved today to help spread the word that working drug free helps to prevent accidents, make workplaces safer, and improve productivity and reduce costs.  Learn more about the Drug-Free Workplace Alliance and get ideas on how you can get involved today!

David K. Mineta is Deputy Director of Office of Demand Reduction, Office of National Drug Control Policy

Working Together to Reduce Drugged Driving and Save Lives

Cross-posted from Office of Public Engagement Blog

Thanks largely to the work of organizations like MADD, most Americans today understand the terrible consequences of drunk driving. But it has become increasingly apparent that drugged driving also poses a serious threat to public safety. The problem is far more prevalent than most people realize. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), of all those tested and whose test results were known one in three drivers killed in crashes tested positive for drugs.

President Obama is dedicated to reducing the negative impact drug use and its consequences have on public health and safety.  And to help address this serious challenge, President Obama has set a goal of reducing drugged driving in America by 10 percent by 2015.  To help achieve this goal, today ONDCP is convening key partners from across the Nation to find ways to make progress.  This summit— a gathering of leaders in youth prevention, highway safety, law enforcement, government, and research—is an invaluable opportunity to take stock of where we are in our efforts, and where we need to go from here.

In addition, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and MADD announced a new partnership this week to raise public awareness regarding the consequences of drugged driving.  MADD has launched a national effort to provide support to the victims of poly-abuse (both alcohol and drugs) and drugged driving and took time this week to recognize law enforcement officers for their achievements in drugged driving enforcement.

We’re proud of the work of organizations like MADD and the Governors Highway Safety Association are accomplishing to help us reach our goal.  Working together, we can save lives and make our roadways safer.  And the good news is that we’re making progress. 

Seventeen states already have per se laws on the books that make it illegal for individuals to drive after using drugs and place others in harm’s way.  ONDCP is also working to raise public awareness about this issue through education.  As part of this effort we’ve released a toolkit aimed at teens, parents, and community leaders to help prevent drugged drivers from hitting our roads.

Learn more about the White House’s efforts to address drugged driving and use the toolkit to help make a change in your community today.

Jon Carson is Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement

ONDCP and MADD Join Forces to Combat Drugged Driving

Today, Director Kerlikowske and MADD announced a new partnership to raise public awareness regarding the consequences of drugged driving.

 According to a new ONDCP analysis of 2009 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) census, roughly one in four (23 percent) of fatally injured drivers who tested positive for drugs were under the age of 25. To combat this alarming trend, ONDCP released a drugged driving toolkit at today’s event and MADD promoted their national effort to provide support to the victims of poly-abuse (both alcohol and drugs) and drugged driving and recognized law enforcement officers for their achievements in drugged driving enforcement

 “Research shows that drugs have adverse effects on judgment, reaction time, and motor skills – all vital requirements for responsible driving,” said Kerlikowske. “I can think of no greater organization with which to partner to save lives on our roadways than MADD. For decades, MADD has been a lynchpin in our Nation’s efforts to make our roadways safer and I am proud to join them to help raise public awareness regarding the devastating consequences of drugged driving.” 

Read the press release
View the data analysis
Learn more about drugged driving

Recovery Advocacy and Health Reform

Two key pieces of legislation offer new hope for people struggling with addiction, their families, and their communities: the Affordable Care Act, which put in place strong consumer protections, provides new coverage options, and gives you the tools you need to make informed choices about your health; and the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (Wellstone-Domenici Act), which ensures that, when mental health and addictions services are offered under an insurance plan, they must be covered as fully as other services, meaning special caps, access barriers, or service limits cannot be applied. 

Together, these two laws have the potential to greatly expand access to badly needed addiction treatment and recovery support services.  Which is why Faces and Voices of Recovery is working with key stakeholders on the details of how folks will access services, what services will be available, who will deliver them, and how they will be reimbursed. We are part of a broad coalition that is advocating for a continuum of services and supports that will help individuals initiate, stabilize, and manage their own recovery. This range of services includes peer recovery coaching, recovery community centers, and peer-led organizations that offer recovery support services. Work is also being done to include similar services in primary care settings.

These are exciting times. We are on the cusp of a substantial expansion of addiction treatment and recovery support services, and potentially revolutionary changes in how, where, and by whom services are delivered.  Faces and Voices of Recovery is proud to be working with others in the addiction and healthcare fields to ensure that individuals who need help can find recovery services, and improve their overall health.This way, health reform will be able to support recovery and wellness in individuals, families, and communities.

Tom Hill is Director of Programs at Faces & Voices of Recovery